Walking off was a mistake, McIlroy tells 'SI'

Mar. 5, 2013
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks off the course on the 18th hole, headed for the parking lot. The defending champion was 7 over through 8 holes in the second round and withdrew because of wisdom tooth pain. / Stuart Franklin, Getty Images

by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

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There was almost universal criticism of Rory McIlroy when he walked off the course just short of halfway through the second round of the Honda Classic on Friday.

Jack Nicklaus suggested during Sunday's broadcast on NBC McIlroy had made a big mistake.

"He shouldn't have walked off," Nicklaus said. "If he had thought about it for 5 minutes, he wouldn't have done it."

McIlroy evidently agrees, saying he realized his mistake moments after leaving the course.

"It was a reactive decision," McIlroy told Michael Bamberger of Sports Illustrated and Golf.com in an exclusive interview Sunday night, two hours after Michael Thompson won the Honda Classic. "What I should have done is take my drop, chip it on, try to make a five and play my hardest on the back nine, even if I shot 85. What I did was not good for the tournament, not good for the kids and the fans who were out there watching me - it was not the right thing to do."

McIlroy walked off the golf course after knocking his second shot into the water on the par-5 18th hole, He was 7 over par at the time, struggling mightily with his game. He initially said he was not in a good place mentally, then later released a statement saying he was struggling with wisdom tooth pain.

"I sincerely apologize to The Honda Classic and PGA Tour for my sudden withdrawal," McIlroy said in a statement, released by the Tour. "I have been suffering with a sore wisdom tooth, which is due to come out in the near future. It began bothering me again last night, so I relieved it with Advil. It was very painful again this morning, and I was simply unable to concentrate. It was really bothering me and had begun to affect my playing partners."

McIlroy also tweeted this, after he left the course: "Apologies to all at the Honda. A tough day made impossible by severe tooth pain. Was desperate to defend title but couldn't play on. Gutted"

It was a surprising move for the world No. 1, who had faced the music after blowing a four-shot lead in the final round of the 2011 Masters (he shot an 80). And he played in pain after injuring his wrist in the first round of the 2011 PGA. He finished out that week and tied for 64th.

McIlroy is still trying to get his game in sync, following his ballyhooed switch to Nike equipment. McIlroy continues to say it's about the swing and the timing more than the clubs.

Nicklaus told NBC he expects McIlroy to get it turned around.

"If you're too good a player, the clubs won't make too much of a difference," said Nicklaus, who then added that he used three different sets up clubs and multiple golf balls during his career. "I always felt that if you were talented enough, the clubs wouldn't be a problem. And he's too talented a player.

McIlroy is playing the Cadillac Championship at Doral this week and is to speak to the media on Wednesday. McIlroy is assured of playing four rounds in this World Golf Championship (which has no cut) for the first time all year. He missed the cut in Abu Dhabi, lost in the first round of the Match Play Championship and played only 26 holes of the Honda Classic.

McIlroy, who has joined Tiger Woods in the Nike stable and has studied the 14-time major champion his whole life, said he wishes he could have been like Woods on Friday.

"He might be the best athlete ever, in terms of his ability to grind it out," McIlroy told the magazine. "I could have a bit more of that, if I'm honest."